Water sprinkler device

ABSTRACT

A water sprinkler device in which a spring-return impactor is driven by the water jet issuing from a rotary sprinkler head and executes oscillatory movement to apply impact forces to the sprinkler head which turn the sprinkler head changing the direction of the water jet. The intensity of the impact forces transmitted to the sprinkler head can be selectively varied for a given level of water jet impulse by operating an adjustment means provided on an impact receiving means.

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,37,576

Rosenkranz Sept. 24, R974 WATER SPRINKLER DEVICE 2,256,737 9/1941Englehart 239 230 T [75] In ento Ju s J. os a Ne York 3,033,469 5/1962Green 239/230 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [73] Assignee: LafayetteBrass Manufacturing Co., Assistant E i -Andres Kashnikow Inc., New York,NY.

[22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [211 App]. No.: 391,232 A watersprinkler device in which a spring-retum impactor is driven by the waterjet issuing from a rotary sprinkler head and executes oscillatorymovement to CCll. 239/230, apply impact forces to the Sprinkler headwhich tum [58] d O DIG 1 the sprinkler head changing the direction ofthe water le care jet. The intensity of the impact forces transmitted tothe sprinkler head can be selectively varied for a given [56] Referencescued level of water jet impulse by operating an adjustment UNITED STATESPATENTS means provided on an impact receiving means. 2,160,121 1939Buckner 239 230 2,223,441 12 1940 Coles et al. 239 230 2 Clalms, DrawlngFigures m I5 23 E; 2. O a f I7 7 W l a 1 .2 .f.

28 11M 33 2 5 I3 I4 36 IO I J r l f L I2 26 I I WATER SPRINKLER DEVICEBACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains ingeneral to water sprinklers and more particularly to a rotary impactdriven water sprinkler having means for adjusting the intensity of theimpact forces applied to the sprinkler head.

The type of water sprinkler in which the invention provides animprovement might be classified more precisely as a reversing rotarysprinkler, such as is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,469 issued May8, 1962 to A. J. Green, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,256,737 issued Sept. 23,1941 to O. H. Englehart. While such sprinkler devices might operatesatisfactorily when supplied with water at a predetermined pressure,certain problems arise when the water pressure drops below the designlevel, and the prior art does not provide any means on the sprinkler tocompensate for changes in water supply pressure.

The invention provides means to compensate for changes in water supplypressure, in a water sprinkler device having an impactor supported forpivotal movement relative to a rotary sprinkler head and disposed forreaction with a water jet issuing from the sprinkler head. In suchsprinkler, resilient means, such as a spring, biases the impactor torotate in a direction opposite to the reaction torque of the water jetwhereby the impactor oscillates relative to the sprinkler head andapplies impact forces thereto which turn the sprinkler head and therebychange the direction of the water jet. Accordingly, the impactor, duringeach cycle of oscillation, will be first swung away from the waterjetand then returned toward the water jet, the amount of displacementdepending upon the water supply pressure, and the spring-return force.In the forward direction of sprinkler head rotation, the impactor returnspring aids in the turning of sprinkler head, whereas in the oppositedirection the spring opposes the turning of the sprinkler head byresisting the impact forces applied by the impactor.

While the prior art sprinkler devices have impact receiving means thatcan continue to function under reduced water pressure conditions, forthe forward direction of sprinkler head rotation which is aided by theimpactor return spring, some of the devices fail to operate in thereverse direction against the opposition of the spring.

To solve such low pressure failure problem, the invention provides animpact receiving means supported by the sprinkler head and disposed forstriking engagement by the impactor to receive therefrom and transmit tothe sprinkler head impact forces for turning the sprinkler head, whichimpact receiving means include adjustment means operable to selectivelyvary the intensity of the impact forces transmitted to the sprinklerhead for a given level of reaction impulse applied to the impactor bythe water jet.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had tothe following detailed description and accompanying drawings whichtogether exemplify certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a right side elevation view of a water sprinkler deviceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the water sprinkler device shown inFIG. 1, as seen set to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the water sprinkler device shown in FIG. 1 asseen set to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and with theimpactor spaced from the impact-receiving stop.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the water sprinkler device similar to FIG. 3,but showing how the impactor strikes the impact receiver.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the water sprinkler device of FIG. 1,as seen set to rotate in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the water sprinkler device as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the water sprinkler device shown in FIG. 1as taken along line 7-7 therein to show how the reversing mechanism isset for counterclockwise rotation.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but taken along line 88 ofFIG. 5 to show how the reversing mechanism is set for clockwiserotation.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the water sprinkler device as taken alongline 99 of FIG. 6 to show details of the impact receiver.

FIG. 10 is a detail view showing another type of impact receiver thatcan be used in the water sprinkler device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In FIGS. l6there is shown an automatic reversing rotary water sprinkler l0 equippedwith the impact adjustment feature of the invention.

Basically, sprinkler 10 has a threaded bushing 11 that is tightened intoa similarly threaded water supply pipe fitting (not shown) whichsupplies water to sprinkler head 12. The sprinkler head 12 is rotatablyreceived in bushing 11 so that the head 12 can freely turn relative tothe supply pipe.

Within head 12 are passages (not shown) that lead to a nozzle 13 (seeFIG. 1) from which a water jet issues. Extending from nozzle 13 is anarm 14 having a surface 15, and bearing an adjustably mounted deflector16 and screw 17. The deflector 16 serves to control the elevationpattern of the spray delivered by sprinkler 10, and screw 17 serves tosplit and thereby disperse the jet.

On the upper portion of head 12, there is a bracket 18 that receives apin 19 on which is supported an impactor 20. At the forward end ofimpactor 20 is an inclined surface 21 and a cupped surface 22 that aredisposed for reaction with the water jet. A spring 23 biases impactor 20toward a reference position, shown in FIG. 3, in which impactor 20contacts the sprinkler head 12 at surface 15 and incidentally also atleg 24 of bracket 18.

The inclined and cupped surfaces 21 and 22 when struck by the water jetdeflect the jet so as to apply to impactor 20 a force producing a torquedirected counterclockwise about pivot pin 19 as seen looking downward inFIGS. 3 and 4. This torque is thus opposed to the torque exerted byspring 23 on impactor 20. Accordingly, the opposing water jet reactionforce and spring 23 force cause the impactor to oscillate about pin 19,the angular amplitude of such oscillation depending upon the pressure ofthe water supplied to the sprinkler head 12, and the location of suchmechanical stops as are presented by impact receiving means employed toutilize impact forces resulting from the oscillation of impactor 20.

On sprinkler head 12 there is provided an automatic reversing mechanismincluding a pivotable arm 25 and an underlying switching arm 26 fromwhich depends a pin 27. Arms 25 and 26 are interconnected by a spring 28so that they have two stable positional states, one for clockwise orforward rotation of head 12, in which arms 25 and 26 are positioned asshown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, and the other for counterclockwise or reverserotation of head 12, in which arms 25 and 26 are positioned as shown inFIGS. 1-4 and 7. Switching from one direction of sprinkler head 12rotation to the opposite is effected when the pin 27 strikes against acorresponding adjustable clip 29, 30 frictionally supported on bushing11. Clips 29 and 30 can be set at an angular relative displacement toestablish corresponding angular limits upon the swing of sprinkler head12.

On arm 25 there is provided an impact receiver 31 that is usedexclusively to receive from impactor 20 impact forces for turning head12 counterclockwise, and as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 8, arm 25 isturned so as to position impact receiver 31 out of contact with impactor20 when the device is set for clockwise head 12 rotation.

In the device 10, it should be noted that the impactor 20 oscillation isnot reversed to change direction of head 12 rotation, but rather suchchange in direction is effected through a change in how the impactforces produced by impactor 20 are applied to head 12.

For forward head 12 rotation, the surface and/or leg 24 are repeatedlystruck by impactor and this turns head 12 clockwise. The invention isnot directly concerned with the forward rotation mode of operation,since changes in water supply pressure are not too critical for reliableforward operation.

Impactor 20 is provided with a depending lug 32 which is positioned tostrikingly engage impact receiver 31 when arm is set for reverse head 12rotation.

Impact receiver 31 thus sets an angular limit to the swing of impactor20 and transmits to sprinkler head 12 impact forces for turning it inthe reverse direction. The larger the angular swing executed by impactor20 toward impact receiver 31, the greater will be the 0pposing force ofspring 23. Consequently, if impact receiver 31 should be set too farfrom where lug 32 is when impactor 20 is at its reference position, theintensity of the strike impact delivered to receiver 31 will bediminished, and in an extreme case, such as when the water pressure istoo low, the reaction impulse applied to impactor 20 by the water jetmay not be enough for lug 32 to strike receiver 31 at all. This willcause failure of reverse operation.

To escape such failure, the invention provides an impact receiver 31including adjustment means operable to selectively vary the intensity ofthe impact forces transmitted to sprinkler head 12 for a given level ofreaction impulse applied to the impactor 20 by the water et.

Details of a preferred adjustment means are shown in FIG. 9, wherein itcan be noted that impact receiver 31 has a slidable member 33, the front34 of which is disposed for striking engagement by lug 32 of impactor20. A spring 35 resiliently engages slidable member 33 and serves totransmit to sprinkler head 12 the impact force resulting from lug 32striking slidable member 33.

The front 34 of slidable member 33 extends sufficiently far into themovement path of lug 32 so as to assure contact with lug 32 at thelowest water pressure that will suffice to operate the sprinkler device10 in the forward direction. A screw 36 is provided for adjustablypreloading spring 35 to vary the intensity of the impact forces appliedto head 12. For a high water pressure, the preload on spring 35 can belight since the level of impulse applied to impactor 20 will be high.For a low water pressure the preload on spring 35 is increased so that agreater portion of the potentially available impactor 20 force will beapplied to head 12. In an extreme case, with minimum operable waterpressure, the preload can be increased until spring 35 is fullycompressed, whereby the impactor 20 will continuously press lug 32against member 33 rather than intermittently strike it.

The use of a preloaded spring 35 in combination with a slidable member33 results in an impact receiver 31 that automatically compensated forchanges (within limits) of water pressure so that when sprinkler head 12is reversing, a fairly constant turning rate will be maintained.

FIG. 10 shows an alternate type of impact receiver 31A that can besubstituted for impact receiver 31, at the sacrifice of automaticcompensation for water pressure changes. Basically, the impact receiver31A has a stop member in the form of a screw 37 extended through athreaded hole in arm 25. Screw 37 is adjustable in relation to the pathof impactor lug 32 movement, and is turned to position the end 38 closerto the lug 32 reference position, to compensate for low water pressure,and is turned to back end 38 away therefrom to compensate for high waterpressure. For any given level of water jet reaction impulse on impactor20, screw 37 can be set to obtain variation of the impact forcestransmitted to sprinkler head 12.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of the invention,the artisan will appreciate that the invention is capable of manyobvious modifications and variations to suit the needs of a particularpurpose.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water sprinkler device having an impactor supported for pivotalmovement relative to a rotary sprinkler head and disposed for reactionwith a water jet issuing from the sprinkler head, and resilient meansbiasing the impactor to rotate in a direction opposite to the reactiontorque of the water jet whereby the impactor oscillates relative to thesprinkler head and applies impact forces thereto which turn thesprinkler head thereby change the direction of the water jet, theimprovement which comprises in combination impact receiving meanssupported by the sprinkler head and dis posed for striking engagement bysaid impactor to receive therefrom and transmit to the sprinkler headimpact forces for turning the sprinkler head, said impact receivingmeans including adjustment means operable to selectively vary theintensity of the imapct forces transmitted to the sprinkler head for agiven level of reaction impulse applied to the impactor by the waterjet, said sprinkler head having an arm and said adjustment meansincluding a stop member supported by said arm and adjustable in relationto the path of impactor movement.

2. In a water sprinkler device having an impactor supported for pivotalmovement relative to a rotary sprinkler head and disposed for reactionwith a water jet issuing from the sprinkler head, and resilient meansbiasing the impactor to rotate in a direction opposite to the reactiontorque of the water jet whereby the impactor oscillates relative to thesprinkler head and applies impact forces thereto which turn thesprinkler head and thereby change the direction of the water jet, theimprovement which comprises in combination impact receiving meanssupported by the sprinkler head and disposed for striking engagement bysaid impactor to receive therefrom and transmit to the sprinkler headimpact forces for turning the sprinkler head, said impact receivingmeans including adjustment means operable to selectively vary theintensity of the impact forces transmitted to the sprinkler head for agiven level of reaction impulse applied to the impactor by the waterjet, said impact receiving means being supported for movement relativeto the sprinkler head from an operating position located in the path ofimpactor movement to a non-operating position clear of the path ofimpactor September 24, 1974 Patent No. 837 576 Dated Jules J. Rosenkranzlnventofls) boize-identified patent It is certified that error appearsin the a wn below:

and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as sho On the coversheet [73] "Lafayette Brass Manufacturing Co., Inc," should readLafayette Brass Company Inc.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of December 1974.

McCOY M. GIBSON JR.

Commissioner of Patents attesting Officer USCOMM-DC GOING-P69 u.s.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFlCE: 869' 930 FORM PO-lOSO (10-69)

1. In a water sprinkler device having an impactor supported for pivotalmovement relative to a rotary sprinkler head and disposed for reactionwith a water jet issuing from the sprinkler head, and resilient meansbiasing the impactor to rotate in a direction opposite to the reactiontorque of the water jet whereby the impactor oscillates relative to thesprinkler head and applies impact forces thereto which turn thesprinkler head thereby change the direction of the water jet, theimprovement which comprises in combination impact receiving meanssupported by the sprinkler head and disposed for striking engagement bysaid impactor to receive therefrom and transmit to the sprinkler headimpact forces for turning the sprinkler head, said impact receivingmeans including adjustment means operable to selectively vary theintensity of the imapct forces transmitted to the sprinkler head for agiven level of reaction impulse applied to the impactor by the waterjet, said sprinkler head having an arm and said adjustment meansincluding a stop member supported by said arm and adjustable in relationto the path of impactor movement.
 2. In a water sprinkler device havingan impactor supported for pivotal movement relative to a rotarysprinkler head and disposed for reaction with a water jet issuing fromthe sprinkler head, and resilient means biasing the impactor to rotatein a direction opposite to the reaction torque of the water jet wherebythe impactor oscillates relative to the sprinkler head and appliesimpact forces thereto which turn the sprinkler head and thereby changethe direction of the water jet, the improvement which comprises incombination impact receiving means supported by the sprinkler head anddisposed for striking engagement by said impactor to receive therefromand transmit to the sprinkler head impact forces for turning thesprinkler head, said impact receiving means including adjustment meansoperable to selectively vary the intensity of the impact forcestransmitted to the sprinkler head for a given level of reaction impulseapplied to the impactor by the water jet, said impact receiving meansbeing supported for movement relative to the sprinkler head from anoperating position located in the path of impactor movement to anon-operating position clear of the path of impactor movement.